Space-block for turbines.



A. K. WARREN.

SPACE BLOCK FOR TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1910.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

ALDRED K.

TE srnn'rnu curios.

WARREN, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPACE-BLOCK FOB TURBINES.

Application filed August 3, 1910. Serial No. 575,303.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALDRED K. WVARREN, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex, State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpace Blocks for Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to elastic fluid turbines, and its object is toprovide a space block for insertion between the shanks of the buckets orblades, which block shall be simple in construction, light in weight andof low cost to manufacture.

To these ends my invention consists of a space block struck up orotherwise formed from sheet metal.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portionof a turbine bucket wheel, partly in section to show my improved spaceblock; Fig. 2 is a view ona larger scale showing a cross section of therim of the wheel, with a space block appearing in elevation; Fig. 3 is asectional view transverse to the buckets, partly broken away to show aspace block in plan; Fig. 4 is a. perspective view of a space block;Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of modified forms of space block;Fig. 7 is a cross section of a wheel equipped with a space block ofstill further modified shape, and Fig. 8 is a erspective view of theblock shown in Fig.

Heretofore space blocks have been made solid, but in the present casethey are hollow, being formed preferably of a sheet metal strip punchedto the proper shape-and bent up, preferably by dies into anapproximately prismoidal structure; though they may be produced bycutting off a short length of a tube of the required cross section. Theshape is determined by that of the undercut groove in the periphery ofthe bucket wheel in which the shanks of the buckets and the space blocksare assembled. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 this groove is a simple dovetail,having straight sides which diverge downwardly. In the wheel shown, itis formed by two annular or segmental side plates 1 riveted to the web 2of the wheel whose periphery forms the bottom of the groove. The buckets3 are provided with the usual dovetail shanks 4 fitting said groove.Between adjacent buckets are the space blocks 5 filling the groovebetween the shanks of said buckets. Each block has a fiat top 6,diverging sides 7 and a bottom 8, composed preferably of the two endportions of the sheet metal strip from which the block is made, said endportions being abutted to form av continuous bottom, and then bentupwardly to form a central supporting web 9 for the top 6. The faces ofthe block are curved, as best shown in Fig. 3, to fit the curvature ofthe buckets and completely fill the space bet-ween adjacent shanks. Ifdesired, the central web 9 may be omitted, and the end portions of thestrip simply aloutted end to end, as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 shows a space block formed without any joint, by cutting off ashort length 10 of sheet metal tubing having the desired cross section.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the block is slightly modified in shape to fit anundercut groove having the upper portion 11 of its side walls parallel.In all other respects the block is similar to that shown in Fig. 4c.

These hollow sheet metal space blocks are easy to make, and effect asaving in material and expense, besides being light to handle andlessening the centrifugal strains on the wheel.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principle of operation of my invention together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.Y

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is 1. A hollow space block for turbine buckets composed of sheetmetal with its ends shaped to engage the opposed faces of two adjacentbucket bases and having an approximately polygonal cross-section.

2. A space block for turbine buckets having dovetail shanks, said blockbeing formed of sheet metal with the edges of said sheet metal shaped toengage the faces of adjacent shanks, and the cross-section of the blockconforming to that of the shanks.

3. A hollow space block for turbines, composed of a strip of sheet metalbent into approximately prismoidal shape.

4. A hollow space block for turbines, composed of a strip of sheet metalbent into approximately prismoidal shape and having a centralstrengthenin web. 7

5. A hollow space block for turbines, composed of a strip of sheet metalbent into approximately prismoidal shape and having its end portionsextended between the bot-- tom and the top toform a strengthening web.

6. In a turbine, the combination of a' bucket-carrying member having vagroove that receives the ends of the buckets, and hollow sheet metalspace blocks arranged in the groove between said ends, the plane of thesheet metal extending longitudinally of the groove.

7 In a turbine, the combination of a bucket-carrying member having anundercut groove that receives the ends of the buckets, and space blocksarranged in the groove between said ends, the space blocks being formedof sheet metal with their front and rear edges fitted to the adjoiningfaces of the ends of the buckets, and with their lat eral faces shapedto engage the walls of the groove.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of August,1910.

ALDRED K. WARREN.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. MoMANUs, J r., CHARLES A. BARNARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. Y

